Richland superintendent due to retire this month. Who will step in after 2nd pick quits

The Richland School District will continue to be led by Superintendent Rick Schulte through the end of this month.

No decision has been made about who will lead the district after that, given the unexpected decision by Mark Davidson not to take the superintendent’s position.

Davidson was picked by the Richland School Board to become superintendent to replace Schulte, who is retiring after more than six years with the district.

However, as the district focused on changes required by the coronavirus changes, contract negotiations had not been completed when Davidson said he planned to remain superintendent of the Medicine Hat School Division in Alberta, Canada.

Davidson withdrew his acceptance of the board’s offer as “a result of the circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the uncertainty it presents,” the Richland district said in an announcement Friday evening.

Schulte already stayed a year longer than planned before retiring after the previous pick for superintendent, Nicole MacTavish, did not work out. She ended her contract to be superintendent a year ago and accepted a settlement from the district.

The school board has not met since Davidson withdrew his acceptance of the district’s offer.

It is not clear if the matter will be discussed at the board’s online meeting Tuesday, June 9, which starts with an hour-long closed session at 5:30 p.m.